Variable-stroke agitator for clothes washing machine



Febo-3, 1970. E. G.LIPSK.| 3,

VARIABLE-STROKE AGITATOR FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16. 1968 WITNESSES; INVENTOR Edward G. Lipski United States Patent O 3,492,839 VARIABLE-STROKE AGITATOR FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Edward G. Lipski, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 706,038 Int. Cl. Dll6f 7/02, 13/02 US. Cl. 68-134 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Agitator structure for a clothes washing machine. The structure has a plurality of vanes attached to a hollow post portion and detached from the skirt thereof such that the paddle portions of the vanes are readily flexible about their line of attachment to the post portion and such that the paddle portions overlie the skirt portion which carries mean-s for permitting flexing of the vanes in only one direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates, in general, to clothes washing machines and, more particularly, to agitator structure for use therein.

Due to the prevailing trend, to increase the capacity of the domestic clothes washers, it has become more diflicult to obtain, with any one agitator structure, satisfactory wash action (i.e. turnover and circulation) for all sizes of loads.

Some attempts to improve the wash action of the agitator structure over a wide range of load sizes have led to the provision of an agitator structure molded of polypropylene and having highly flexible vanes with portions attached to a central post and with paddle portions or segments which are not attached. It has been found that the foregoing structure produces a wash action which is too vigorous for small clothes loads and water levels and too gentle or not powerful enough for the large clothes loads and water levels, the latter, of course, resulting in too little turnover or circulation of the clothes.

Another solution to the problem has been to provide variable speed motors to attain a variety of actions as deemed necessary. This approach, as will be obvious, is undesirable since it substantially increases the cost of an already expensive part of the machine. Furthermore, the lower motor speed reduces the pumping rate which is objectionable.

Accordingly, the general object of this invention is to provide a new and improved agitator structure for a clothes washing machine.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a new and improved agitator structure for a clothes washing machine which provides washing action (i.e. turnover and circulation of the clothes) suitable for all load sizes and water levels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the above-cited objects are accomplished in the present invention by providing, in an upright type of clothes washing machine, an agitator structure having a central post portion with a plurality of vane members attached thereto. The vane members comprise paddle portions which are not attached, either to the post portion or an inclined skirt portion formed integral with the post portion. The paddle segments overlie the skirt portion and are substantially coextensive therewith. A plurality of stop members, one for each vane member, are carried by the skirt portion and serve to prevent flexure of the paddle portions or segments in one direction while allowing flexure in the opposite direction. As the agitator structure rotates in the direction of paddle flexure, the paddle portions move past some articles of clothing. Rotation of the agitator structure in the other direction effects a much larger biting into the clothes mass. This results in continually exposing different clothes articles for contact 'by the vane members, yet, because of the slipping that takes place between the clothes and the vane members, in the one direction, the net wash action on the clothes is suitable over the entire range of load sizes as well as article compositions.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in view of the following detailed description and drawings forming a part hereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a diametric vertical section of a laundry agitator structure embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary or partial top plan view of the agitator structure illustrated in FIGURE 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view, partially in section, of a modified form of the agitator structure illustrated in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, especially FIGURE 1, reference character 10 designates generally a clothes washing machine agitator structure, made from any suitable material, for example, polypropylene. The structure 10 comprises a central post portion 11 and an integral inclined skirt portion 12 at the lower end thereof. A plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending vanes 13, only two being shown, comprise inner segments 14 secured to the post portion 11 and paddle segments 16 which overlie the skirt portion 12 and which are detached therefrom.

The top end of the post portion 11 is interiorly fluted as indicated at 17 for mating with a splined agitator shaft 18 partially shown in FIG. 1.

In accordance with the present invention, the vanes 13 are highly flexible about their line of attachment to the post portion 11. A stop member 19 (FIGS. 1 and 2) (one for each vane member 13) is carried by the skirt portion 12 and preferably molded integrally therewith, in a position adjacent one side of the paddle segments 16. The stop member extends upwardly from the top of the skirt portion such that it prevents movement of the paddle portion 16 in one direction upon rotation of the agitator structure 10, while permitting flexing of the paddle portion or segment when the agitator structure is rotated in the other direction.

A modified form or embodiment of the invention as disclosed in FIG. 3 is exactly the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the exception of the means for preventing flexure of the paddle segment 16 in one direction. To the extent that the embodiments of FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 are similar, the reference characters will be the same.

As shown in FIG. 3, a pin 21 disposed in an aperture 22 in the lower edge 23 of a paddle segment 24 extends into an arcuate slot 26 in the top wall of a skirt portion 27 such that when the paddle segment 24 is contacted on the one side by articles of clothing, it is free to flex due to the movement of the pin 21 in the slot 26. Of course, contacting the paddle segment 24 on the opposite side does not effect movement thereof because of the abutment of the pin 21 against an end 28 of the slot 26.

Since numerous changes may be made in the described apparatus and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. Agitator structure for use in clothes washing machines, said structure comprising: a central post portion, a skirt portion attached to said central post portion adjacent its lower end, a plurality of vane members spaced about the circumference of said central post portion, each of said vane members having an inner segment attached to said post portion and a readily flexible paddle segment overlying said skirt portion and detached therefrom, means cooperating with said skirt portion for limiting movement of each paddle segment in one direction, movement limiting means comprising an elongated stop member attached to said skirt portion adjacent and in abutment with one side of said paddle segment.

2. Agitator structure for use in clothes washing machines, said structure comprising: a central post portion, a skirt portion attached to said central post portion adjacent its lower end, a plurality of vane members spaced about the circumference of said central post portion, each of said vane members having an inner segment attached to said post portion and a readily flexible paddle segment overlying said skirt portion and detached therefrom, and means cooperating with said skirt portion for limiting movement of each paddle segment in one direction, movement limiting means comprises a movable member which rides in a slot in said skirt portion and simultaneously engages said paddle segment.

3. Structure as specified in claim 2, wherein said movement limiting means comprises a pin member carried by each of said paddle segments and a plurality of slots in said skirt portion for receiving said pin members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,307,383 3/1967 Cobb et al. 68134 3,381,504 5/1968 Smith 68-134 3,388,570 6/1968 Cobb et a1. 68134 WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner 

